ALTA, Wyo. — When stepping foot into The Trap Bar at Grand Targhee Resort for an après-ski session, there’s a welcoming small town vibe that has not gone unnoticed in the region. Just steps from the resort’s summit chair lift, it’s the watering hole on the mountain and hosts about fifty free music shows per season. The balance of local bands, a weekly open mic, and national touring acts pushes the focus beyond just the snow conditions. This weekend, the slope side bar welcomes Denver-based folk-reggae-jam-hip-hop ensemble A-Mac & The Height.
“It’s amazing how many bands reach out to play The Trap because they’ve heard how great the audiences are,” said Beth Byrd, Trap Bar Manager and Entertainment Buyer. “It’s an intimate but energetic setting where audience can get right up to the stage and the bands feed of their energy. By the end of the evening, tables are pushed back, people are dancing in their boots, and everyone in the room, including the musicians, is having a blast. Bands love it because they find new fans and enjoy the perks of the resort, and the customers—no matter how the skiing conditions are—leave feeling like they had the best day at the mountain.”
A-Mac & The Height played a late show at The Trap during Targhee Fest last summer and turned some heads. Paying homage to acts as diverse as Sublime, Bob Marley, Dr. Dre and Grateful Dead would seem an unlikely combination handful of few years ago, but not in 2020. After years of experiment and development, Alex Mackenzie-Low (a.k.a. A-Mac on vocals and acoustic guitar) has united his latest musical brotherhood including Stephen Eski Edwards (Bass), Karl Rivers (Keyboards), Jake Setters (Drums) and John Sayers (Guitar & Vocals).
Hook-driven songwriting and a cohesive blend of reggae, hip-hop, funk, alternative rock, and a strumming acoustic guitar, the group is “fueled by conscious thinking, with lyrics that are uplifting, relatable, and insightful,” according to their bio. They’ve previously sold out the Bluebird Theater in their hometown and even started a their own Spread the Word Music Festival, hosting bands like Boombox, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, and The Werks.
A longtime local, Byrd has an eye for talent, and has also done well to cultivate a sense of family among Trap employees and local patrons. Musicians get the roll-off benefits of this atmosphere and the evidence is in the booking—they always want to come back.
“I like to book locally and regionally because there are so many talented musicians and stellar bands close by. However, I love bringing new bands to the Trap and introducing them to our amazing Teton Valley community. Touring bands return year after year because they love the vibe here. I think free live music is such an asset to the area, so I try to accommodate as much of it as possible.”
A-Mac & The Height, 3-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday in The Trap Bar at Grand Targhee Resort. Free. GrandTarghee.com.
